Helical spring actuated sliding side jaw wrench



Aug. W, 1948. R. H. SCHLOTE HELICAL SPRING ACTUATED SLIDING SIDE JAW WRENCH Filed Jan. 10, 1947 grave/MM R yaZfiSc/zZazfe' Patented Aug. 17, 1948 HELICAL SPRING ACTUATED SLIDING SIDE JAW WRENCH v Royal H. Schlote, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to G. F. Schlote & Company, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 10, 1947, Serial No. 721,305

6 Claims.

1 This invention relates to an improved construction of wrench of the type comprising a fixed and a slidably mounted jaw and that more particularly has reference to a novel means of simple construction for actuating the sliding jaw and for 1.

efiectively maintaining the actuating means in any position to which it is manually moved whereby said actuating means will function to retain the sliding jaw in any adjusted position.

More particularly, it is an objectof the invention to provide a sliding jaw actuator for wrenches including worm and pinion means and an actuator therefor in the form of a resilient helix, the resiliency of which will function in a'unique mannor for maintaining the parts in any position to which they are manually moved.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a wrench of extremely simple construction capable of being readily assembled or disassembled and provided with adjustable bearing means for varying the resiliency of the helical actuator for thereby varying the extent to which it will function for maintaining the parts in adjusted position.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a wrench having a tubular dust or dirt guard which is so constructed that it will substantially eliminate any noise incident to the operation of the parts occurring during adjustment of the wrench and at the same time lighten the wrench and reduce the cost of manufacture thereof.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein: v V

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partlyrin section, of a wrench constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an edge view in elevation thereof looking from left to right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of the wrench, and

Figure 6 is a side elevational View of another portion thereof.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the improved wrench in its entirety is designated generally l and is Capable of being formed of any suitable metal and includes an enlarged head 8 having a stationary jaw H3 and an integral shank or handle portion 9 extending from a part of the head 8 and remote from the stationary law In.

The head 8, as best seen in Figure 4, is recessed in a direction generally diagonally of the longitudinal axis of the wrench 1, said recess including a guide portion H which opens outwardly of the arcuate edge of the head 8 at diametrically opposite points, and an inner recessed portion l2 which is disposed substantially parallel to the guide portion 1 l and between said portion and the handle or shank 9. As seen in Figure 4, the adjacent portions of the recessed portions II and I2 are disposed in communication, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The inner recessed portion I2 is provided at its upper end with an inwardly opening, substantially conical shaped bearing recess I-3 and has an enlarged, internally threaded opposite end [4.

The guide recess I I is provided on opposite sides thereof with arcuate grooves 15 for receiving and slidably engaging correspondingly shaped ribs [6 of an elongated shank portion I! of an adjustable jaw 18. The elongated shank portion I1 is slidably disposed in the guide H for mounting the movable jaw [Sin .opposed relationship to the fixed jaw I I] and for movement toward and away from said jaw Ill.

A warm I9 is disposed longitudinally in the recessed portion I2 and is provided with a conical shaped shank end 26 which is journalled in the bearing recess I3, said worm having an opposite tapered end 2! which is journalled in a similarly shaped, inwardly opening bearing recess 22 of a threaded plug or closure 23 which is detachably mounted in the internally threaded end IA of said recessed portion H. The flange ll of the movable jaw I8 is provided with an enlarged inneredge portion 24 which is toothed to engage with the helical thread of the worm l9 whereby said jaw IE will be actuated and moved either toward or away from the jaw in when the worm I9 is revolved. v

The handle or shank 9 is provided with a bore 25 extending from end to end thereof and having aninternally threaded outer end 25 As best seen in Figure 3, the bore 25 is circular in cross section but the handle or shank 9 is substantially ovalshaped in cross section, externally thereof.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, a tube of hardened or tempered spring steel is provided with a helical slot extending substantially from end to end thereof and forming a plurality of convolutions and by means of which the tube is converted into a helical spring 26 composed of a plurality of relatively wide convolutions 21 having spaced adjacent edges forming a helical slot 28 therebetween. The slot 28 may extend entirely to the ends of the tube from which the helical spring 26 is formed or to points adjacent said ends. A pinion 29 is provided with a restricted shank portion .30Whichis suitablyssecured in one end of the=spring 26 for supporting the pinion 29 in outwardly projecting relationship to said end and keyed thereto. The spring 26 is inserted Tin the bore 25 and extends substantiallyjrom endto end thereof, as indicated in brokenlines infllgure 1. As seen in Figure 4, the head 8 is provided with an integral projection 3| which .overliesm.

pin 42. Accordingly, when the collar 39 is moved in one direction the convolutions 21 disposed between ithe 1pm -42 and the end '61? Ithe spring 26, toward which the collar 39 is "being moved, will be caused to yield to permit the portion of the .10 nonvolutions of the slot 28, engaged by the pin 42, ,to be spread sufiiciently to permit the pin to ride-therein. .As a result, when pressure is relieved from the collar or slide 39 the convolutions 21 will :return by their own resiliency to their portion of the inner end of thebore zfi and w1iich 35 drmap siti n for clamping the pin 42 between is provided with a tapered projection 32 which extends into a recess 33 in the outer end of the pinion 29 for journalling said pinion and the 'adjacent end of the spring 26 within the boredS and substantially axially thereof. The pinion 29 .has .a mortion therecj extending through a roommunicating opening :34 into the rrecessedqpnrtion l 2 to meshwithzarpinihn 3.6 whichis keyed to'the worm :l;9.

An externally threaded plug,-.0r iclosure 36 :is detachably mounted iin .the threaded :outer :end "25 "of the bore .25 :and provided :at its :inner end with a restrictedproj ec'tion 3:1 which extends into :the :opposite, outer end of :the spring 126 to provide a journaliorvsaid end. Theenlargedfhead of Ethe outer-lendof the-closure or plug 136 :iszprovided with a substantially V -shaped bail .38 to provide means for -hang'ingthe wrench"! and 11501 turning the closure or plug 36 for applying and removing the same and also ior ad-justably =position'ing it in the threaded portion 2'6, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

-A collar 39,- shaped to correspond "to the oval external shape'of the handle or'shank '9, 'is'slidably mounted thereon and has a threaded opening 40 for receiving the outer enlarged threaded end 41 of a pin "42 which extends inwardly through a slot '43 in the handle-or shank 9. -The slot 43 is disposed longitudinally of the handle or shank 9 and extends substantially from end to end thereof and the pin 42 extends :therethrough .and into a portion of the helical slot 28 of the helical spring 26.

A tubular dust .guard 44 is disposed in the bore 25 and around the helical spring '26 and extends substantially "from end to end thereof. The dust guard 44 is provided with a .spiralslot which extends substantially from end to end thereof and which makes approximately one complete revolution of the tube. The guard provides means .for substantially closing the slot to prevent duster dirt irom entering the bore .25 therethrough and the ,pin -42 extends through the .slot 45 thereof and .causes the guard 44 to revolve slowly as the collar 39 is moved longitudinally of the shank .9 .so that the portion .of the slot 45, which is at any time in engagement with the pin 42, will also be in registry with the slot 43.

Assuming that the wrench I is assembled as illustrated in Figure -1, by sliding the colic/n39 on the shank or handle 9 toward the head :8, the pin 42 will be caused to ride in theslot 28 itor causing the helical spring 26 to rotate in iacounterclockwise direction, looking downwardly thereon, .for thereby revolving the pinion!!! in-the same :di* rection to move the pinion 35 which is enmeshed therewith and the worm .19 in a clockwise direction for moving the jaw 18 toward the fixed jaw 10. Likewise,- if the collar 39 is moved away "two'oi the convolutions and with suflicient grip- ;ping yforce so that the movable jaw [8 will be effectively locked in its adjusted position until manual "pressure is again applied to the collar or slide 39. As the projection 31 forms one bearmanner for pro'tectingthebore-ZS of the handle :or shank B from dust or dirt. However, such sleeves are conventionally formed of metal, usually brass,-whereas thesleeve 44 is formed of a plastic -mater'ial, preferably cellulose acetate 'bu'tyrate; By 'providingthe sleeve 44 Ma plastic materialthe weight and-'cost'of production thereof is considerdblyreduccd-and the operation of the wrench is rendered substantially silent as the plastic rguardsleevefll 'deadens the sound of the movement-of theparts incident to the adjustment of the movable jaw f8.

'Various"m'odifications and changes are contemplated'and may'obviously be resorted to, without departingffrom the spirit and scope of the invention :as hereinafter defined'by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:.

1."In a wrench o'f the character described, a wrench headprovided with a fixed j aw and having a-recessed "portion, a 'movablejaw having a shank portion slidably disposed in the recessed portion of the wrench lhead, worm means journalled in the recessed portion of the head for cooperating with a poritlonof the shank of the movable jaw for moving said movable jaw relatively to the head-when said wormlmeans is revolved, an-elongated tubular handle projecting from a part of the wrench head and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, .a helical spring journalled in said tubular handle, pinion means connecting the helical spring to-saidworm means, a collar slidably disposed .on the handle and having a pin extending through the slot thereof and engaging the slot formed by thespaced'convolutions of the helical spring, .said collar being slidable on the handle for rotating the helical spring to actuate the movable jaw, and said pin being normally clamped between the convolutions of the spring by the resiliency 'thereof'for retaining the parts in :adjustedpositions.

2. A wrench asin-claim l, bearings for journalling said helical spring in the tubular handle, and one of said bearings being adjustable rela- 74 tively to the handle for varying the resiliency 75 to end thereof.

4. A wrench as in claim 1, said tubular handle having a bore of substantially circular cross section and being non-circular externally in cross section, and said collar being shaped to closely engage the handle and being slidably and nonrotatably disposed thereon.

5. A wrench as in claim 1, the recess of said wrench head having an internally threaded open end portion, and a threaded member engaging said threaded portion and having a bearing for journalling one end of the worm means for detachably mounting the worm means in the wrench head.

6. In a wrench of the character described, a wrench head provided with a fixed jaw and having a recessed portion, a movable jaw having a shank portion slidably disposed in the recessed portion of the wrench head, worm means journalled in the recessed portion of the head for cooperating with a portion of the shank of the movable jaw for moving said movable jaw relatively to the head when said worm means is revolved, an elongated tubular handle projecting from a part of the wrench head and provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a helical spring journalled in said tubular handle, pin-ion means connecting the 6 helical spring to said worm means, a collar slidably disposed on the handle and having a pin extending through the slot thereof and engaging the slot formed by the spaced convolutions of the helical spring, said collar being slidable on the handle for rotating the helical spring to actuate the movable jaw, said pin being normally clamped between the convolutions of the spring by the resiliency thereof for retaining the parts in ad- J'usted positions, and a dust guard tube journalled in the tubular handle and rotatably disposed around the helical spring, said tube having a hellcal slot extending substantially from end to end thereof and in which the pin is slidably disposed.

ROYAL H. SCHLOTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 703,898 Davison July 1, 1902 1,354,782 Schlote Oct. 5, 1920 1,391,180 Evans et a1. Sept. 20, 1921 1,739,182 Schlote Dec. 10, 1929 

